Supermarket Search

[snausages2000]

I have a quick question about New Jersey I was wondering if anyone might be able to help answer.

I'm going to be shooting a scene for a video project in a NJ supermarket and I'm looking for a certain aesthetic:  basically, a huge, modern, wide-aisled superstore, preferably housed in a massive, high-ceilinged airplane hangar type of structure.  It doesn't matter what kind of products they sell (well, it has to be food), I'm just going for this look.

I found exactly what I'm looking for in Nutley, NJ at a Super Shop & Stop off of Route 3.  I found a bunch of other supermarkets nearby, but the aisles were more narrow, the ceilngs lower, the structures less modern.  I'm trying to compile a few options because I assume I'm going to be denied permission to shoot at a couple of these spots and therefore want to have numerous places to ask. Also, it would help if it was within 30 minutes of NYC.

Anyway, if anything comes to mind, I'd love to hear suggestions.

Thanks to Rachel, who I already asked concerning this. She suggested Fairway in Fort Lee.

Thanks everyone.

[Rosie]

Wegmans in Woodbridge.

[Curlz]

Wegmans, Wegmans, WEGMANS! The newest store is in Woodbridge, but they're also in Bridgewater, Princeton and Manalapan...

[tommy]

Thanks to Rachel, who I already asked concerning this. She suggested Fairway in Fort Lee.

unless i'm misunderstanding your requirements, i'd say that Fairway is exactly what you *don't* want. tiny aisles. low ceiling.

wegmans in woodbridge seems to be an obvious choice.

you might also consider Han ah Reum in ridgefield or little ferry.

[nizza]

I would definitely suggest the new Shop Rite in Lyndhurst. It's brand new, huge, airport hanger type with wide aisles and within 30 minutes of NYC!!!!

I found a webpage with their info along with source for a map and directions.

http://www.shoprite.com/locator/storeout.a...3&type=pharmacy

Good Luck and let us know which store get permission to shoot at.

[Rachel Perlow]

OH my god, I'm such an idiot! Did I tell you Fairway??? No, I meant Food Emporium, right near the GWB. I mean just as you finish going over the bridge it is there on your right.

[menton1]

The ShopRite on Rte 4 Eastbound in Paramus, just past the Bergen Mall; the aisles are extremely wide, the produce section is cavernous; it is only about 5 years old-- I don't know if the ceilings are super-high, but I assume so. (I never looked up!)

[Curlz]

The Whole Foods in Edgewater is also a good-sized store AND has great views of NYC and the Hudson out of their front windows...

[snausages2000]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys! I'll check out all these locations (next weekend). If there're more suggestions, keep em coming!

Also, and I know this is a longshot, but if anybody by any chance has a connection

at one of these places (like, knows the manager) that could be a tremendous help. If you do, post it here, or maybe send me a personal message and I'll follow up with you.

Later.

(This is all, of course, just an excuse to get back to China 46)

[tommy]

and the international food mart on 17 north in what i assume is maywood or hackensack might be an idea. i wouldn't actually buy food there, but it's got some high ceilings. right off of rt 80.

[Curlz]

Snausages,

I suspect that customer service-wise, you'll get the most help from Wegmans, followed by Whole Foods. Remember to point out that this is good p.r. for them, as you'll give them credit somewhere--and then do it, of course!

[jhlurie]

The problem with Wegmans, from snausages2000's persepctive is that it's FAR more than 30 minutes from Manhattan, unless you go on like... a Sunday morning with zero traffic.

There's both a fairly modern Pathmark and a Whole Foods in Edgewater (next town south from Fort Lee), but both will probably give you a corporate run-around. There's yet ANOTHER Pathmark off Rte 46.--right within the first mile or so off the George Washington Bridge.

International Food Mart in Paramus is an interesting idea, the only problem being that it doesn't really LOOK like most supermarkets. It looks more like a warehouse.

The previously mentioned ShopRite on Rte 4 Eastbound in Paramus is great with ceilings, and has SOME wide aisles, but also has narrow ones in other parts of the store. It's very oddly laid out.

Rachel is right about the Food Emporium near the GWB. It's got huge aisles and impressive ceilings.

[ghostrider]

I found exactly what I'm looking for in Nutley, NJ at a Super Shop & Stop off of Route 3.  I found a bunch of other supermarkets nearby, but the aisles were more narrow, the ceilngs lower, the structures less modern.  I'm trying to compile a few options because I assume I'm going to be denied permission to shoot at a couple of these spots and therefore want to have numerous places to ask.  Also, it would help if it was within 30 minutes of NYC.

There's a virtually identical Super Stop & Shop in Lyndhurst, just in case that one in Nufton doesn't cooperate. (I always assumed it was in Clifton since it's part of the Clifton Commons, but after 14 years here I'm still not sure where Nutley ends & Clifton begins.) I shop at both & as far as I can tell the only difference is in the location of the bathrooms.

The one in Lyndhurst is on Lewandowski, between Marin Ave & Page Ave. Lewandowski runs N/S, parallel to Orient Way (1 blk W) & Ridge Rd (aka Rt 17, 3 blks E). It's maybe a mile S of Rt. 3 - a bit closer to NYC than the Nufton store.

Edited May 8, 2004 by ghostrider (log)

[Franky2Times]

Ghostrider, I know what you mean about Clifton. I live in Bloomridgeclair. Where the hell does Bloomfield ends, Nutley starts and Clifton ???? Anyway, in answer to the thread, why not a food aisle at any Costco (there's one in Secaucus about 5 minutes away from the Lincoln Tunnel).

[Cook456]

I also live in Clifton, right near the Stop & Shop, but my vote is definitely for Whole Foods in Edgewater!!!!!!!!

[scott123]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!  I'll check out all these locations (next weekend).  If there're more suggestions, keep em coming!

Also, and I know this is a longshot, but if anybody by any chance has a connection

at one of these places (like, knows the manager) that could be a tremendous help.  If you do, post it here, or maybe send me a personal message and I'll follow up with you.

Later.

(This is all, of course, just an excuse to get back to China 46)

I don't know what your budget is, but if you run into permission problems, money can be vastly helpful in lubricating the wheels.

[Curlz]

Anyway, in answer to the thread, why not a food aisle at any Costco (there's one in Secaucus about 5 minutes away from the Lincoln Tunnel).

The Costco is actually in Clifton--for real! :-) Just off of Rt. 3.

[Franky2Times]

Arrrggghhhh....... Can we say Clifcaucusford???

[Kim WB]

The problem with Wegmans, from snausages2000's persepctive is that it's FAR more than 30 minutes from Manhattan, unless you go on like... a Sunday morning with zero traffic.

Jon...NJT to exit 10, and then and maybe 5- 10 minutes from there..if it takes 40 minutes, you are driving slow!

[menton1]

and the international food mart on 17 north in what i assume is maywood or hackensack might be an idea. i wouldn't actually buy food there, but it's got some high ceilings. right off of rt 80.

Costco has very high ceilings, too, but neither of these places look like a supermarket...

P.S. International Food is actually in Lodi. (Right on the border)

[snausages2000]

Menton, I think you're probably right about Costco not looking like a traditional supermarket. Plus, I'm not a member, which I think is required for entrance. Although they do make surprisingly good rugelah.

I may go to Wegman's, even if it's a little far, just because it sounds awesome.

[tommy]

Costco has very high ceilings, too, but neither of these places look like a supermarket...

depending on the shot and the requirements, either might work. along with BJ's on right 17 at route 4, which doesn't require a membership to walk around. hell, even wegman's doesn't look like a "supermarket". the traditional supermarket seems to be becoming a thing of the past.

Edited May 13, 2004 by tommy (log)

[Curlz]

Wegmans is SO worth the trip!! That, plus the fact that they're very customer service and p.r.-oriented, makes me think that they would want to help make it work for you!

[snausages2000]

Thanks again to everyone who offered suggestions for my supermarket search.

All the information was extremely helpful.

I went to more grocery stores on Saturday than I'd been to, total, in my entire life.

It was interesting to note that every single supermarket looked different, with little

architectural and lighting nuances, but every cashier & bagger looked exactly the same.

I swear the same 9 people work in the Shop & Stop in Hackensack and the Shop Rite

in Lyndhurst. Or maybe there's just a certain uniformity to people's appearance when they're

bathed in flourescent light (and all miserable with their jobs).

Wegman's in Woodbridge was nice. My first time at a Wegman's. I got roped in by a woman at a sample table selling some sort of new Saran Wrap that sticks to itself and she was pleased to demonstrate that a glass of water sealed with the stuff could be turned upside down without leaking any water, or, that I could wrap my cellphone and then put it in a cooler, if I wanted to. God knows I want to.

Han Ah Reum was not the right look, but that place is awesome. I've been to their store on 32nd St., in the city, but this is the real deal. I never knew there were 4,200 different types of pre-packaged Korean Noodle soup. Or that Pocky made a pumpkin flavor (not good, don't try it - stick with Maple Custard, or any of the many chocolate varieties).

As for permission to shoot, it was a complete and total failure. Every store manager said the same thing: call corporate headquarters and ask them. When I called headquarters, no one knew whose job it was to field my request. Eventually, an Operations middle manager would be wrangled and give the rote, No. Funny that the US might actually be one of the toughest places in the world to try to shoot in 'public' places. Ah, insurance liability...

It's all right, though. Plan B is in effect - run into these stores guerilla style with a camera and see what happens. I hope Jersey jail is accomodating.

PS - I stopped in at a Indo/Pak/Bangladesh place on Route 1/9, in a depressing little strip mall, near Newark Airport. The place looks like a community center - a big, square room, linoleum floors, a few fold-up tables - could easily host a rockin' geriatric Bingo night. The floor was disturbingly sticky. Nice sucking sound with every step, just to make my entrance into the empty room all the more awkward. The food was served out of hot trays behind the counter. I was trying to save room for China 46 so I just got a Chicken Curry and something the guy described as Spicy Chicken. Standard microwave re-heating and paper plates, but both were actually very good - surprisingly well flavored. Superior, I think, to the comprable Pakistani Tea House in NYC.

The Spicy Chicken was covered in Anise seeds. I've never had that anywhere else. And they were showing some awesome Indian movies on the TV - a really melodramatic Indian version of ET, with an adorable blue alien named "Jadco." Brilliant. I got stuffed though and couldn't go for a much anticipated return to China 46, despite passing it THREE times. Painful.

[Curlz]

I swear the same 9 people work in the Shop & Stop in Hackensack and the Shop Rite in Lyndhurst. 

!!!